Patricia Ann Lankford's Obituary
Patricia (Pat) Ann Holton Lankford, 72, of San Antonio, Texas passed away Friday, March 18 at her daughter’s home. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 1:00 in the afternoon in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. The Reverend Mike Haynes will officiate. Interment will follow at Restland Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 22nd, at Restland. Pat was born in Caldwell, Idaho on May 10, 1943, to Robert D. and Bonnie Mae (Packer) Holton. She grew up on a farm in Idaho, where she graduated from Wilder High School in 1961 and The College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho, in 1965 with a BA in Business Administration and Education. While in college, she met William (Bill) Lankford, the love of her life. After teaching in Parma, Idaho for one year, Pat and Bill were married June 4, 1966 at the Wilder United Methodist Church, Wilder, Idaho. Moving north, Pat taught for two years at Genesee, Idaho High School while Bill completed his engineering degree at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Bill was then employed by Texas Instruments in Dallas, and the couple moved to Garland, Texas in 1968, to begin their family. Their daughter Michele (Shellie) was born October 19, 1968, and was the pride and joy of Pat and Bill’s lives. Pat was employed by the Richardson Independent School District at O. Henry Elementary in 1973, where she had a 27 year career, retiring in 2000 after 30 years in education. During this time, they lived in Garland where they attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, and later moved to Richardson where they resided for 23 years. Upon Bill’s retirement in 2003, the couple took the opportunity to see the world, traveling to Alaska, Italy, Hawaii, and a European river cruise on the Danube and Rhine rivers. They moved to Heritage Ranch in Fairview, Texas in 2007 and became members of Creekwood United Methodist Church in Allen, Texas. After 44 years of marriage, Pat lost her beloved husband February 18, 2010. Subsequently, in 2014, Pat relocated to San Antonio to be near her daughter and two beloved grandsons. Pat loved to spend time with them, especially on her “Grandma Fridays”, for special outings and overnights. Both boys looked forward to these special times. She wanted to be involved in all aspects of their young lives, and she was actively involved with them during the time she had in San Antonio. Pat is survived by her daughter Shellie Lankford of San Antonio, Texas; her two grandsons Evan William (age 5) and Collin Patrick (age 4) of San Antonio, Texas; her brother and sister-in-law, Wendell and Jan Holton of Melba, Idaho; her nephew, Dustin Holton of Melba, Idaho; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Carolyn Lankford of Scottsdale, Arizona; her nephew and two nieces, Scott Lankford and wife Lori of Copley, Ohio; Jill Beebe and husband Scott of Pe,ninsula, Ohio; and Jenny Jones and husband Andy of Brooklyn, New York; plus eight great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased in death by her beloved husband Bill, and by her father, Robert Holton and her mother, Bonnie Holton. For those wishing to make contributions in her honor, memorials may be made to the Pat Lankford Memorial Fund, Creekwood United Methodist Church, 261 Country Club Road, Allen, Texas 75002.
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